Thursday, July 10, 2014

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most expensive work-related injuries, costing an employee who has it over $30,000 in medical bills and work absences during their lifetime. Occurring most often in adults, women especially, that have jobs in the manufacturing, sewing, cleaning or meatpacking industries, carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive strain condition that causes pain and numbness in the fingers and thumb. While painful and debilitating, carpal tunnel syndrome doesn’t have to rule your life. Here at Summit Chiropractic, Dr. Kent Carlomagno alleviates patients’ pain and helps them heal.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a problem that affects the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand. When this nerve becomes compressed in the carpal tunnel, where the nerves, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels travel through the wrist, it can result in numbness, weakness and pain. Common symptoms include burning, tingling, numbness and itching in the palm, thumb, index and middle fingers. Some people describe their fingers as feeling useless and swollen even if they don’t appear to be. Symptoms can first appear while sleeping since many people sleep with flexed wrists. As symptoms worsen, they may appear during the day and result in weaker grip strength and decreased sensitivity to hot and cold.

To treat carpal tunnel syndrome, your chiropractor can provide an alternative to surgery. By using chiropractic care in addition to a chiropractic traction/distraction device, Dr. Carlomagno can reshape the carpal tunnel and remove the pressure from the median nerve, alleviating your pain.

If you’re suffering from wrist, forearm and hand pain related to carpal tunnel syndrome, schedule an appointment with our office in San Rafael, CA by calling (415) 721-7520. For more information, visitwww.summitchiro.net.